Member Spotlight: Jürgen Knoblich, PhD

Jürgen Knoblich, PhD
Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Austria

Hometown
Memmingen (a small town in Bavaria, Germany)

Current Residence
Vienna, Austria

Graduate Degree
I obtained my PhD at the Max Planck Institute in Tübingen, Germany working on cell cycle control in Drosophila.

Postdoc Work
I performed my post-doctoral work in the laboratory of Yuh Nung and Lily Jan at University of California, San Francisco working on asymmetric cell division in the Drosophila nervous system.

Current Position
I am currently the director of IMBA, the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. I am also a Professor at the Medical University of Vienna.

• What is the current focus of your research?

  We are interested in the molecular mechanisms that enable development of the human brain. The specific processes that make our brain so powerful and the way these specific features also make it vulnerable to disease are the core interests of my lab. For this, we have developed cerebral organoids, 3D cultures derived from pluripotent stem cells that recapitulate morphogenesis and cell fate specification in the human brain and allow us to recapitulate the molecular events leading to brain diseases like Epilepsy or Autism.

• How would you explain the significance of this work to a lay audience?

  The human brain is extraordinarily powerful but also exceptionally vulnerable to neuro-developmental diseases. Animal experiments can only recapitulate its development to a limited degree. By studying development and disease directly in human tissue, we gain insights not possible in animal experiments.

• What do you find most rewarding about your work?

  It is the process of discovery. This moment when you see something that no one else has seen before and understand something that was a mystery for the longest time. It is like going where no one else has been before or climbing a mountain for the first time. Being a scientist is one of the most wonderful professions and I am lucky and grateful having the privilege of working in one of the most wonderful places for doing science.

• What is the most exciting aspect of your work?

  Having the privilege of working and interacting with some of the most intelligent people of all. Following the success of scientists I have trained and seeing them mature and grow into leading positions.

• What led you to become a scientist and to stem cell research?

  Ever since elementary school, I wanted to become a Chemist. Luckily, my chemistry teacher convinced me to move into Biochemistry and my PhD supervisor taught me Genetics. My move into stem cell biology started from my interest in asymmetric cell division, a process that allows one cell to generate two differently fated daughter cells. In fruitflies, this is enabled by the segregation of protein determinants into one of the two daughter cells and we were lucky to find out how that works. The development of cerebral organoids and CRISPR/Cas9 technology has allowed us to now do Drosophila-like genetics in human tissues and performing human genetics with the precision that was only possible in fruitflies is the vision of my group.

• What guidance would you share in talking with trainees interested in pursuing your area of research?

  Never exaggerate your results. In my view, experimental rigor, modesty and honesty are the most important requirements for being successful in science. The will to make true discoveries rather than struggling from one paper to the next is another very important prerequisite. And always remember that a lot of luck is required for being successful in science. And this means, it can always go wrong at any stage of the career. Being prepared for this and being grateful and appreciative when it goes right is very important.

• Do you have any mentors or individuals who have inspired you in your stem cell work?

  My interest in science was initiated by two absolutely outstanding highschool teachers. Mr Happ and Mr Ketterl who taught me Chemistry and Physics and inspired me to become a scientist although no one else in my family is. I had the priviledge to do my PhD with Christian Lehner, who really taught me how to do science and inspired my love and appreciation of Drosophila as a model. And I would not be where I am without Yuh Nung Jan, my postdoc supervisor, who taught me how to think strategically in one's experiments and how to put results together.

• How do you spend your free time?

  Cycling, hiking, and cooking are some of my favorites. But then there is also a wonderful cultural life to enjoy in Vienna.

• What is something your peers would be surprised to learn about you?

  My father was a factory worker and my mother worked at the checkout of a supermarket. They were the most loving parents one can imagine. I would particularly like to encourage kids and students who - like me - do not have an academic background to have the courage and engage in science despite the resistance they may experience in their families. In my view, free access to good school education is the primary basis for any fair society and the role of teachers in shaping our society of the future can not be valued high enough.

• What do you most value about your membership with the ISSCR?

  In my view, the ISSCR is one of the most professional and influential scientific societies of all. It's a great honor being able to serve on their board and witness its successful development over the years. Stem cell biology has a strong influence on our societies and having all the scientists working in this area united in this organization working together to benefit society is absolutely wonderful.